The WHO estimates that at least 9,300 people have been killed in Syria, with almost 30,000 in Turkey. They also fear that the numbers will rise further. The UN humanitarian chief, for his part, has declared: “We have failed the people of northwestern Syria”
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the earthquakes in northwestern Syria have claimed at least 9,300 deaths so far, which, in addition to the 29,605 deaths confirmed so far by Turkey, brings the total number of fatalities in both countries to 38,905 died.
The new estimate for Syria has been provided by the WHO Director-General’s team, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusis, who played the leading role in a press conference in the capital, Damascus, in which he gave an initial assessment of the situation.
The WHO Regional Director of Emergency Situations, Dr. Rick Brennan, has pointed out that “there is currently no way to create a custom projection” before estimating that 4,800 people were killed and 2,500 injured in government-controlled areas of Syria and another 4,500 killed and 7,500 injured in rebel-held areas.
“We fear these numbers will continue to increase, especially as we gain greater access to these areas,” he explained in statements collected by Sky News.
UN humanitarian aid chief: “We have failed the people of northwestern Syria”
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths acknowledged on Sunday that his organization “has failed the people of northwestern Syria,” one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes that have hit the country and where hardly any humanitarian aid has arrived.
“So far we have failed the people of northwestern Syria. They rightly feel abandoned, seeking international aid that has not arrived,” Griffiths wrote on his Twitter account.
At the #Turkey–#Syria border today.
So far, we have failed the people of northwestern Syria.
They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international aid that has not arrived.
It is my duty and our duty to correct this error as soon as possible.
That’s my focus now.— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 12, 2023
Since last Monday’s earthquake, the rescue group White Helmets has complained that it has not received help from the United Nations in northwestern Syria’s opposition areas, which are difficult to access because they can only be reached through a single border crossing, that of Bab de Hawa . , which connects Turkey to the Syrian province of Idlib.
Even the leader of the rescue group, Raed Saleh, said on Friday that “the UN bureaucracy has participated in the slaughter of the Syrian people”.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
